CROSBY. The
surname Crosby is of very ancient English origin. It is derived from two
English words, cross and by (bury, burgh or borough), meaning the town
of the cross, and had been in use from the time when surnames were first
adopted in England. In the time of Richard III one of the name occupied
Crosby House in London, and that city still has a street by the name. It
is also embalmed in no less than eight places in England, namely:
Crosby-upon-Eden, near Carlisle, in Cumberlandshire; with the villages
of High and Low Crosby; another village in the western division of
Cumberland; Crosby-Garrett and Crosby-Ravensworth, in Westmoreland; a
village in the North Riding of Yorkshire; a village in Lincolnshire; and
Great Crosby and Little Crosby, suburbs of Liverpool. In 1204 Ode de
Crossby was constable of Tikehall in Yorkshire, and as early as 1220 we
find Simon de Crossby in Lancashire, where he was a landholder. The name
Simon has continued in frequent use among his descendants to the present
day, and he was undoubtedly the progenitor of the American family.
Several settlers named Crosby came to New England early enough to be
classed among the pioneers, and from them sprang a hardy race of
frontiersmen who were industrious workers in peace and hard fighters in
the wars with French and Indians. Still later generations of Crosbys
have been foremost in business and professional life, in philanthropic
endeavor, and every worthy line of effort. The name has been especially
prominent in the medical profession, and has been closely associated
with institutions of learning, notably Harvard and Dartmouth. Having
first been used a place-name, it was easily adopted as a surname by
one coming from the "crosstown" or "town built by the
cross."

(I) Simon Crosby, perhaps a brother of Thomas of Cambridge and
Rowley, embarked from England in the ship "Susan and Ellen",
April 13, 1635, being then twenty-six years old, with his wife Ann aged
twenty-five, and infant son Thomas, eight weeks old. He settled in
Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he was a husbandman and was a proprietor
as early as February 8, 1636. He was admitted a freemen in that year,
and served as selectman in 1636 and 1638. He had several grants of land,
and his estate, later known as the "Brattle place," passed
into the hands of Rev. William Brattle, his residence being at what is
now the corner of Brattle Street and Brattle Square. He died in
September, 1639, at the early age of thirty-one years, leaving sons, Thomas, born in England; Simon, born in 1637, in Cambridge; and
Joseph, 1639, at the same place. The widow married, in 1646, Rev. William
Thompson, minister at Braintree, and became the second time a
widow at his death, December 10, 1666. She died October 8, 1676.

Page 447

(II) Thomas, eldest son of Simon and Ann Crossly, was prepared for
college by his step-father, William. He was born in England, probably in
march, 1635, and was reared in Braintree. He graduated from Harvard
College in 1653, and was minister of the church at Eastham,
Massachusetts, from 1655 to 1670. He subsequently engaged in business,
became a successful man of affairs, and died in Boston, June 13, 1702.
Nearly all of the name in southeastern Massachusetts are his
descendants. His wife's baptismal name was Sarah, and they had children:
1. Thomas, born April 7, 1663. 2. Simon, July 5, 1665. 3. Sarah, March
24, 1667. 4. Joseph, January 27, 1669. 5. & 6. John and a twin who
died at birth, February 11, 1671. 7. William, March, 1673. 8. Ebenezer,
March 28, 1675. 9., 10. & 11. Anne, Mercy and Increase (triplets),
April 14-15, 1678. 12. Eleazer, mentioned below.

(III) Eleazer, youngest child of Thomas and Sarah Crosby, was born
March 30, 1680. He resided in Harwich, Massachusetts, and his death
occurred after October 23, 1759, which is the date affixed to his will.
October 24, 1706, he married Patience, daughter of John, Jr. and Sarah
(Merrick) Freeman. Children: 1. Kezia, born May 6, 1708. 2. Rebecca, May
12, 1709, married Ebenezer Hopkins. 3. Eleazer, January 5, 1710-11. 4.
Silvanus, November 15, 1712. 5. Phebe, December 18, 1714, married a
Clark. 6. Sarah, December 8, 1716, died July 31, 1724. 7. Isaac, October
18, 1719. 8. Mary, November 28, 1722. 9. Sarah, March 18, 1725-26,
married a Yates. 10. Patience, October 29, 1728, married Paine. 11.
Eunice, died January 29, 17321-32. Mrs. Patience Crosby died January 28,
1731-32. The will of Eleazer Crosby, previously referred to as having
been made October 23, 1759, discloses the fact that he married again;
that the baptismal name of his second wife was Esther, and that she bore
him one son, Prince. In this document he mentions all of the above named
children except Mary and Eunice, who were then dead.

(IV) Captain prince, only son of Eleazer and Esther Crosby, was
probably born in Harwich, but a careful research of all available
records relating to this family fails to reveal the date of his birth.
Like most of the young men of Cape Cod, he adopted a seafaring lie, and,
becoming a master mariner, commanded a merchant vessel plying between
Massachusetts and Cuba. His death occurred during one of his voyages and
he was buried at sea. Information at hand states that Captain Prince
Crosby married a beautiful Spanish lady, who after her husband's death
went to reside in New Hampshire, and that they had a son, Jeremiah. The
latter was the first of this branch of the Crosby family to settle in
Lewis county, New York.

(V) Jeremiah, son of Captain Prince Crosby, was born in New England,
was reared in New Hampshire, whence he removed, in 1800, to Lewis
County, New York, where his son was born.

(VI) Hopkins, son of Jeremiah Crosby, was born in Lewis County, New
York, and there became a successful farmer. He married Mary Porter, of
the same vicinity, whose parents also came from New England. Some years
after marriage Mr. Crosby's health began to fail, and he sought a change
of climate. With his wife and four small children he proceeded to Tioga
County, Pennsylvania, where he began farming on a small scale. The
change greatly benefited his health, and by industry and self-denial he
was able to add to his holdings and achieved success in life.

(VII) Dr. Alexander H., eldest son of Hopkins and Mary (Porter)
Crosby, was born October 18, 1836, in Martinsburg,

Page 448

Lewis County, New York. He was reared on his father's farm, and his
early education was obtained mainly at home and by his own efforts.
There were few educational advantages in the neighborhood where he
lived, but he had a natural taste for learning, and make the most of his
opportunities. He was a wide-awake, ambitious youth, and became a
desirous of studying for the medial profession. This was a brave
undertaking, and attended with many difficulties; during most of the
time while he was studying medicine he added to his meager finances by
beginning, at the age of sixteen years, teaching school. Alexander
Crosby was sent first by his parents to a private school near home, and
afterwards attended school at Wallsboro, Pennsylvania, one year; two
years at Mansfield Seminary, and the academy at Lowville, New York.
Afterwards he spent some time in the office of his uncle, Dr. Lyman
Buckley, of Oswego County, New York, and later in the office of Dr.
James T. Peden, an eminent physician and surgeon of Martinsburg, Lewis
County. Later he took a course of medical lectures at Albany Medical
College, and received a license for the practice of medicine. He began
his practice in January, 1862, in Martinsburg, New York, the country
seat of Lewis County, and in March, 1867, he removed to Lowville, which
then became the county seat. Dr. Crosby built up a large practice, and
won the confidence and esteem of the entire community. He took a high
place in his profession, and became well known through his testimony in
many murder trails, where his word was taken as conclusive in many
contested opinions as to the cause of death n the various cases. The
first case of note in which Dr. Crosby testimony was one concerning the
murder of a man who was subject to epileptic fits, and, although the
defending lawyer contended that his death was the result of epilepsy,
there being no fracture of the skull or blood vessels broken Dr. Crosby
proved to the satisfaction of judge and jury that he met death as the
result of the blows dealt him on the head.

Dr. Crosby always keeps abreast of the times, and made a careful
study of new discoveries and theories advanced in his profession. His
skill in surgery was many times called into use, and he won a reputation
throughout the northern part of the state for his knowledge and
achievements. He is a man of strong character and inflexible will, and
is pre-eminently a self-made man. Dr. Crosby has for many years belonged
to the County Medical Society, in which he has held all the offices, and
has served several times as delegate to the State Medical Society. He
takes a keen interest in public affairs, and espouse the cause of the
Democratic Party. In 1875 he was elected to the state assembly. During
1877-78 Dr. Crosby represented the second congressional district in the
state central and executive committee, and n 881 he was again chairman
of the county committee. He used his influence for the lowering of tolls
and all other measures he considered for the best interests of his
constituents. As a member of the committee of public health, he worked
for the suppression of certain manufactures, and labored hard toward the
passage of a bill regulating the location of these obnoxious factories
in New York City. In 1879 he again received the nomination of his party
for a seat in the assembly, and although defeated he ran several hundred
votes ahead of his ticket. He is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church of
Lowville, and for many years served as vestryman. He is a liberal
supporter of religious and charitable institution, and interested in the
welfare of the poor. In 1880 upon the appearance of diphtheria, in the
town of Greig Dr. Crosby investigated the cause, which was purely a
local one, and this was the fact that many of the poorer class of people
in the town were eating diseased potatoes. This action was greatly
appreciated by the authorities, and gained him considerable prestige
among his fellow doctors. He

Page 449

was appointed by the state board of charities as a member of the
visiting committee for Lewis County, and in this position he died much
to better the condition of the inmates of public institution and the
securing of more comfort for these unfortunates.

STODDARD. Various conjectures have been promulgated regarding the
origin of this name. One which is evidently quite mythical relates that
there was a William Stoddard, knight, cousin of William the Conqueror,
who came from Normandy, England, in 1066. As the cousins of William the
conqueror are pretty well accounted for his idea should received but
little weight. There may be some color to the theory that the name arose
from the occupation of its bearer, who was the standard bearer, and was
called de la Standard (of the Standard), which could be easily modified,
as is practically every English name into the present form. It is found
with a great variety of spellings in the English and early New England
records, such as Stodder, Stodart, Stoddert, Stodherd, Stothers,
Stodhart and Stodhard. The name is undoubtedly of northern origin and is
well represented in the Scottish Lowlands. In that section of the world
stot is a word used for ox, and the stotherd was one who cared for the
oxen, just as the shepherd cares for the sheep. For some generations
there was a rather prominent family of this name in London, England.
Several were very early in New England, Anthony Stoddard being found in
Boston, about 1630, and three John Stoddards in various sections, one at
New London, and another at Wethersfield. Though there can be little
doubt the immigrant ancestor of this family was related to the others,
no evidence appears to establish the fact.

(I) Ralph Stoddard, born about 1666, probably in England, lived for a
short time in Boston, Massachusetts, whence he removed to Groton,
Connecticut, where he died December 17, 1753, at the age of eighty-seven
years. In 1895 he purchased the south grant of the John Gadger lands in
the northern part of Groton, in the vicinity of Gale's Ferry, the
present town of Ledyard. In Groton continued to be a part of the town of
New London until 1705. In the 1872 the site of his settlement was still
in the possession of a descendant in the neighborhood and was known as
Stoddard's Landing. Groton continued to be a part of the town of New
London until 1705. In the vicinity of Ralph Stoddard were Robert and
Thomas Stoddard; one being in the neighborhood of Norwich and the other
at what is now New London, and the records of business transactions
shows them to have been mutually interested but there is no evidence
that they were related. He married, about 1696, Mary Ames, of Boston,
born 1664, died February 3, 1728, aged sixty-four years, and was the
first person buried in the old cemetery at Gale's Ferry. Children: !.
Ralph, mentioned below. 2. Mark, born February 14, 1702. 3. Mary, July
20, 1705. There were perhaps others, but these are all shown by the
records.

(II) Ralph (2), eldest child of Ralph (1) and Mary Stoddard, was born
May 31, 1697, in Groton, and died there as the result of sunstroke,
august 24, 1744. He was a farmer, residing all his life in Groton. He
married, January 3, 1722, Hannah Lester, born 1681, daughter of Andrew
and Lydia (Bayley) Lester, formerly of Gloucester, Massachusetts. After
his death she married a Williams. Children: 1. Ralph, mentioned below.
2. Mark, born May 1, 1725. 3. Hannah, May 4, 1727. 4. Wait, July 14,
1729. 5. Jonathan, October 9, 1731. 6. Mary, December 12, 1733. 7.
Eunice, March 9, 1736. 8. Priscilla, March 12, 1738. 9. Esther, May 1,
1741. 10. Elkanah, August 5, 1743.

(III) Ralph (3), eldest child of Ralph (2) and Hannah (Lester) Stoddard, was born July 30, 1723, in Groton,
where he was a farmer and passed most of his life. He was commander of a
company in Colonel Beebe's Regiment of a company in Colonel Beebe's
regiment of the Revolutionary Army, charged September 8, 1776, and was
discharged November 17 of the same year. His son Ralph was a sergeant
and his son Vine an ensign in his company. He married, April 3, 1746,
Susanna Elderkin, widow of Isaac Avery. Children: 1. Vine, born February
27, 1749. 2. Ralph, mentioned below. 3. Elisha, all born in Groton.
There may have been others. In 1781 vine Stoddard was an ensign in the
provisional regiment in Groton.

Page 450

(IV) Ralph (4), son of Ralph (3) and Susanna (Avery) Stoddard, was
born in Groton, Connecticut, February 4, 1751, died February 4, 1831, in
Harrisburg, Lewis County, New York. About 1794 he removed to Westfield,
Massachusetts, where he lived a few years, and in 1803 emigrated to New
York. The "Black River Country" in the state of new York was
opened up to settlement about 1796, and in 1797 Leyden was settled; a
few settlers came to Lowville, June 2, 1797. Several went to this new
country from Westfield at this time and also at the beginning of the new
century. Ralph Stoddard lived to se the unbroken wilderness cleared and
well settled. He married Charlotte, daughter of Samuel Newton, and they
had sons George A. and Wait S. T.

(V) George A., son of Ralph (4) and Charlotte (Newton) Stoddard, was
born May 4, 1772, in Groton, Connecticut, died June 11, 1844. He was the
seventh settler of Harrisburg, New York, and one of the earliest of
Lewis County, removing there from Westfield, Massachusetts, where he had
spent some years. He married, October 28, 1793, Temperance Allen, who
was born in April, 1772, and they cleared and proved their title to a
large farm near Harrisburg, New York, where they reared a large family.
The two eldest of their children died in infancy; the others were: 3.
Lydia, born May 17, 1798, in Westfield, Massachusetts, died November
25,. 1847; married June 8, 1828, William O. Lasher. 4. Cynthia, born
October 7, 1800, in Westfield, Massachusetts; married March 16, 1820,
William Thompson. 5. Maria, born May 14, 1802, married Amasa Dodge, Jr.,
June 30, 1823. 6. Anson, born October 26, 1804, died in August, 1828. 7.
Polly, born October 10, 1906; married Henry Humphrey, June 23, 1828. 8.
Charles S., born March 23, 1809. 9. Loren A., born February 16, 1811,
married Clarissa Dewey, February 19, 1835. 10. Mabel S., born March 16,
1813, married Avery Root, November 14, 1853.

(VI) Charles S. son of George A. and Temperance (Allen) Stoddard, was
born March 23, 1809, in Harrisburg, New York and died in 1888. He
received his education in the local public schools, and engaged in f
arming, purchasing a farm near his father, located at Lowville. He was
very successful, and retired in 1865 from active life, spending the
remainder of his life in the village of Lowville. He had about six
hundred acres of land, which he put into good condition, and here
carried on dairying extensively. Charles S. Stoddard married Nancy,
daughter of Micah Humphrey; children: 1. Cornelia, born July 4, 1833;
married, December 3, 1853. 2. J. Goodrich Scott. 3. & 4. George A.
and Amasa S., twins, born November 27, 1855. 5. Mabel E., born December
4, 1838, died August 23, 1853. 6. Susan M., born July 20, 1841, died
June 20, 1844. 7. Morgan A. 8. Susan M., born October 25, 1847, died
April 2, 1867. 9. Delphine N., born April 1, 1852; married Warren L.
Scott. George A. Stoddard married Elizabeth Livingston. Further mention
is made of Morgan A.

Page 451

(VII) Amasa S., son of Charles S. Stoddard, was born at Lowville, New
York, November 27, 1835, died June 22, 1910. He attended the public
schools and Lowville Academy, and worked on his father's farm until he attained his majority. He then spent four years as clerk ina
dry goods store in Lowville, and remained until his marriage. He and his
wife spent six years on a farm, and the Mr. Stoddard sold out and
settled in Lowville, where, in company with George J. Mager, he opened a
dry goods store, April 1, 1867, in the building at the corner of State
and Dayan Streets, where they carried on business under the name of
Stoddard & Mager. They were associated in business fourteen years,
at the end of which time they sold out and Mr. Stoddard retired. After
six years of inactivity Mr. Stoddard became dissatisfied, and in 1888,
in company with Russell E. Bateman, again engaged in mercantile business
under the firm name of Stoddard & Bateman, and became one of the
leading dry goods firms in Lowville. Both being men of business
enterprise and integrity, they were looked upon as leading citizens.
Politically Mr. Stoddard was a Republican, and served four years as
president of the village, also three years as trustee. January 18, 1879,
he became treasurer of the Lowville Academy and served as such until his
death. Besides his dry goods business Mr. Stoddard had other financial
interests; he was director and treasurer of the Asbestos Burial Casket
Company, of which he was one of the largest stockholder; director of the
Lowville & Beaver River Railroad Company; president of the Rural
Cemetery Association, and interested in other investments. Mr. Stoddard
was an active member of the Baptist Church of Lowville, and for more
than twenty-seven years was a member of the choir. He was well known and
highly respected in the community, where the family has been represented
more than a century. He was actively interested in public affairs, and
gave his hearty endorsement to any cause or object worthy of it. Mr.
Stoddard married, January 22, 1861, Julia A., daughter of Samuel and Ada
(Mason) Smith, who settled in Lee, Oneida County, New York, about 1849;
she was born in Cheshire, Massachusetts, August 22, 1839, and died
August 22, 1906. To this union was born one son, Frank S., July 29,
1862. He received his education at Lowville Academy, in his native town,
and Colgate Academy, of Hamilton, New York. He has had charge of the
office and clerical work of the Asbestos Burial Casket Company for
upwards of twenty years, and is a director and assistant treasurer of
the company. He is also a member of the choir of the Baptist Church. He
married, December 27, 1894, Belle Nanson Sousley, of Nebraska City,
Nebraska, daughter of Captain Jesse Robert and Martha (Cheatham) Sousley.

(VII) Moran Allen, third and youngest son of Charles S. Stoddard, was
born April 11, 1844, in Lowville, New York. He was reared on a farm,
attended the public schools, and afterward took a course at Lowville
Academy. He spent sometime working in the store of W. H. Greeley, and
for five and half years was clerk in the employ of Stoddard & Mager.
He was employed ten years as railway mail clerk on the Black River
Railroad between Watertown and Utica, and January 1, 1883, he purchased
a hardware establishment in Lowville, which he has since carried on with
success. Mr. Stoddard has paid close attention to his business
interests, and has won success by his energy and thrift. He is one of
the foremost merchants and most influential men of Lowville, where he is
held in high esteem. He is interested in the public welfare and
progress, and in political views is independent. He attends the
Presbyterian Church, and is a prominent member of the Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons, being affiliated with Lowville Lodge, No. 134, Lowville
Chapter, No. 223, R. A. M., Watertown Commandery, No. 11, K. T.,
Watertown Lodge of Perfection, P. of J., Central City, Chapter, R. C.,
Central Consistory, S. P. R. S., and Media Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Mr.
Stoddard married, March 1, 1881, Anna M. Porter.

Page 452

(V) Wait S. T., son of Ralph (4) (q.v.) and Charlotte (Newton)
Stoddard, was born in New London, Connecticut, January 14, 1781, died
March 14, 1866. When he was thirteen years of age his father removed his
family to Westfield, Massachusetts, and here he spent his remaining
years of minority on the farm. In 1802 he removed to Lewis County, New
York, where he settled on a tract of heavily timbered land, the timber
being subsequently removed, and the land brought under cultivation. The
farm laid within the borders of the town of Harrisburg, which town Mr.
Stoddard served in various public capacities. During the War of 1812
with Great Britain he enlisted and served in the United States Army. He
always supported the candidates of the Whig party until the formation of
the Republican Party, when he transferred his allegiance to that young
organization that was destined to govern the nation almost
uninterruptedly for the following half century. In religious conviction
he was a Baptist. He married, in 1809, Rosamond Bates, born in
Massachusetts, daughter of William and Sarah (Snow) Bates. Children: 1.
Harvey N. 2. Jane. 3. Elvira. 4. Pamelia. 5. Addison. 6. Ralph E. 7.
Adeline. 8. Newton, see forward. 9. Theodocia.

(VI) Newton, eighth child of Wait S. T. and Rosamond (Bates)
Stoddard, was born at the homestead in Harrisburg, Lewis County, New
York, January 31, 1831, died February 7, 1891. He was reared on the farm
and educated in the public schools of the town. He remained on the farm
until he arrived at his majority, when he began life for himself. He
purchased a farm in the near vicinity and engaged in agriculture all his
active days. He was eminently successful in all his undertakings and
accumulated a large estate. He was a charter member of Harrisburg
Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and firmly believed and supported that
organization, through which he believed much good could be accomplished
ina farming community. He married, December 28, 1838, Sylvia E. Allen,
born in Denmark, New York, October 29, 1838, died October 7, 1874,
daughter of William Avery and Azenath (Whiting) Allen. Children: 1.
Nettie s., born May 11, 1867, died August 14, 1891. 2. May Elizabeth,
July 13, 1868; married, February 6, 1901, Timothy J. O'Connor. 3. Wait
J., see forward.

(VII) Wait J., youngest child of Newton and Sylvia E. (Allen)
Stoddard, was born at Harrisburg, New York, October 7, 1870. He was
educated in the public schools, and remained on the farm, to the
ownership of which he succeeded. He is one of the largest and most
successful dairy farmers of the section, owning and operating two find
farms and maintaining a dairy of sixty-five choice cows, and has
numerous interests outside his farms. He is a Republican in politics,
and served the town of Harrisburg as assessor our years. In 1902 he
removed to the village of Lowville, and since residing there served the
town in the same official capacity for six years. He is a member of
Lowville Lodge, No. 134, Free and Accepted Masons' Lowville chapter, No.
223, Royal Arch Masons; and a charter member of Harrisburg Grange,
Patrons of Husbandry. He married, February 6, 1894, Alva A. Roberts,
born in Lewis County, New York, October 23, 1872, daughter of Henry L.
and Marion (Stoddard) Roberts. Children; 1. Sylvia, born December 13,
1895. 2. A son who died in infancy.

STRONG. The surname Strong or Stronge is a corruption for
Straunge or Storange, branches of which family were at an early period
seated I various counties in England. In the Calendar Inquisition Post
Mortem we find Hugo Straunge (Henry V.) having estates near York.
Baldewin Straunge was in the county of Stafford in the time of Henry VI,
and Johannes Straunge was armiger in the counties of

Page 453

Norfolk and Suffolk in the fifteenth year of the same reign. Gage's
History of Suffolk contains an account of John Straunge bequeathing
certain lands in that county a century earlier, 1378. The will of
Johannes Strange, of Coventry bears date 1522. Nether Stronge in
Somersetshire seems to have been the cunabilia gentis", the
name occurring frequently in the records of that and adjoining counties
after this date. Rev. Dr. Strong, rector of More Critchfield, in
Dorsetshire, afterwards a famous preacher at Westminster Abbey, buried
there July 4, 1654, was probably of the Nether Stronge family.
Melancthon Strong, of the Nether Stronge family, was living in 1659, and
had two daughters, Mary Gosfroth, and Elizabeth, born 1687, married
Samuel Sandeforth, and had Anne, who married, April 12, 1742, Robert
Streatfield. His son, Melancthon Stronge, who according to an entry in
the books of the Haberdashers Company for 1694 was apprenticed for
several years to a London tradesman, subsequently settled in Garrott,
near Waudsworth, county surrey, and died March 28, 1750. Melancthon
Stronge, born 1706, married Eleanor Sanders, daughter of Thomas of
Hockwood, in Charlwood, of the ancient family of Sanders of Sandersfield:
children: 1. Melancthon, died young. 2. Thomas. 3. Clement Samuel,
married Ann Streetfield, and resided at Sedgefield near Durham. Thomas,
second son of Melancthon, was born November, 1733, married 1764, Sophia,
daughter and sole heir of Robert Alsop, of Great Marlboro Street, lord
mayor of London, 1752, and sheriff 1747, the year in which Lords Lovatt
and Radcliffe, the titular Earl of Derwntwater, were beheaded. This
family intermarried with that of Sir Francis Drake. The old coat-of-arms
of the family is described: Gules an eagle displayed or. Crest: An eagle
displayed or. A prominent branch of the family resided in Dublin and
county Armagh, Ireland.

(I) Thomas Strong, immigrant ancestor of this family in America, was
born in England, probably in or near London, whence he came to New York
early in the nineteenth century. He married Maria, daughter of Henry and
Ann (Ogden) Peers. It is family tradition that he left home on account
of a family disagreement over the distribution of his father's estate.
He settled about 1790 on a farm near what is now Central Park, New York
City, where he passed the rest of his life. He was a man of good repute.
He died in 1827. Children: 1. John, born January 2, 1821, mentioned
below. 2. Rev. James, D. D., LL. D., born 1823; a Methodist Episcopal clergyman of Drew Theological Seminary, Madison New Jersey, died at
Flatbush, Long Island, was engaged several years in editing the Bible
Cyclopedia, in association with Rev. Dr. McClintock of New York; he
wrote to the compiled of the very exhaustive Strong Genealogy that his
father died when he was four years old, and that there had been no
communication maintained with his father's relatives in England, so that
he knew of no way of tracing his ancestry. Thomas Strong had brothers
John and James in England.

(II) John, son of Thomas Strong, was born in New York City, January
2, 1821. He was educated in Fitch's Academy, Bloomingdale, New York,
near which he lived until seventeen years old. He settled in Turin,
Lewis County, New York, in 1838, and followed farming all his life. He
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, twenty-five years. In
politics he was a Republican, and held various public offices. He was
for some years assessor and selectman of the town of Turin. He lived a
quiet, well-ordered life, characterized by great industry, firm
integrity and honor, and much common sense and ability. He owned real
estate in New York City, and acquired a comfortable competence. He
married (first) June 22, 1841, Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Sylvester
Foster, of Turin. She was born at Islip, Long Island, august 16, 1823,
and died February 14, 1869. He

Page 454

married (second) September 29, 1869, Mary E. House, born in
Houseville, New York, March 5, 1836. (See House). Children of first
wife: 1. Amelia, born July 23, 1842, married, June 14, 1865, Dr. Robert
D. Rhodes, of Marcellus, New York. 2. Francis Dewey, September 4, 1844;
died November 27, 1872; married, February 2, 1867, George Gary Bush,
teacher, Montpelier, Vermont. 3. John Henry, October 29, 1846, married
Lamoine Whittaker, October 30, 1869. 4. Elizabeth foster, April 2, 1850;
died June 12, 1861. 5. Maria Abigail, April 9, 1852; married, November
28, 1878, Levi N. Mogg. 6. Sylvester Foster, September 6, 1855. Only
child of second wife; 7. Louis Thomas, April 20, 1875. He married
(third) February 3, 1891; Lucy A., daughter of Carroll and Fannie House.

(III) Louis Thomas, son of John Strong, was born at Turin, New York,
April 20, 1875. He attended the district schools, the Turin Union School
and the Cazenovia Seminary. He was engaged in the retail grocery
business in his native town six years, and for one year bookkeeper for
the Black River Telephone Company at Lowville. After three more years as
bookkeeper for the Turin Canning and Pickling Company of Turin, he
engaged in his present occupation as a farmer. He has a large and
well-tilled farm about a mile from Turin village, on which he resides.
In politics he is a Republican. He was assessor of the town of Turin
four years, and is now county superintendent of poor for Lewis County,
elected November 3, 1908. He is active and influential in his party and
in town and county affairs, and is one of the best known of the younger
men in public life in Lewis County. Of attractive personality and kindly
manner, he counts among his friends men of all political parties and of
every class. He is a prominent Free mason, a member of Turin Lodge, No.
184, of which he was for two years junior warden and is now serving his
second term as senior warden. He and his family attend the Presbyterian
Church. He is a member of the Lowville Club. He married, May 1, 1895, at
Elmira, New York, Cora Jessie Atwood, born in Herrickville, Bradford
County, Pennsylvania, May 1, 1874, daughter of George Charles Atwood and
Henrietta (Taylor) Atwood. Her father was a farmer and merchant.
Children of Mr. and Mrs. Strong: 1. James Louis, born July 18, 1896. 2.
Mary Kathleen, December 21, 1897. 3. Carol Georgiana, January 25, 1899.
.4. Marjorie, November 3, 1902.

(The House Line).

Walter House, first of this surname in Connecticut, died in 1670, at
New London, leaving a widow and son John, of whom we know nothing
further.

(I) William House, perhaps a relative of Walter House, settled in
Glastonbury, Connecticut. He died in 1703-04. His will was dated
February, 1703-04 at Glastonbury. The inventory amounted to one hundred
thirteen shillings taken by Joseph smith and Thomas Hale, Sr. In the
settlement of the estate the ages of his children are given (Page 83,
Vol. ii, Hartford County Probate records). Children: 1. John, born 1674,
married, May 8, 1903, Eunice fox; died 1711, will dated January 23,
17--; widow Eunice and brother Joseph, administrators; children: Eunice,
aged eight; Sarah, seven; John, seven; Silence, one year; widow married
a Keeney. 2. Sarah, born 1678, married Joseph smith. 3. Mary, 1678;
married -------------- Hall. 4. Anne, 1684. 5. William, 1685; married,
December 1, 1709, Hannah, daughter of John and Hannah (Williams)
Loveland; children, born at Glastonbury: Hannah, July 19, 1711; William,
September 9, 1713; Benoni, September 20, 1715. 6. Joseph, mentioned
below. 7. Eunice (not mentioned in estate) married Thomas Loveland.

(II) Joseph, son of William House, was born at Glastonbury, in 1687.
He was administrator of his brother's estate. He married Rachel Pitkin,
born December 14, 1692. (See will of Roger Pitkin, her father, January 1, 1733, p. 620,
Hartford Probate Records III).

Page 455

(III) Joseph (2), son of Joseph (1) House.

(IV) Eleazer, son or nephew of Joseph (2) house, was born September
230, 1759. He was a soldier in the Revolution from July 12 to December
18, 1777, in Captain John Ripley's company (Tenth), Colonel Jedediah
Huntington; sergeant in Captain Fitch Bissell's company, Colonel
Huntington's regiment, and reported missing after the battle of Long
Island; in 1776 he was in Captain Ebenezer Fitch's company, Colonel
Huntington's (Seventeeth) Regiment. (Page 27 vol. viii, Conn. Hist.
Society). The other Revolutionary soldiers of this family were Benjamin,
Benoni, Jonathan, Samuel, and William. In 1790, Elijah, George,
Elizabeth, John, Benjamin and Samuel were living heads of families in
Glastonbury, also Eleazer, who had in his family two sons under sixteen
and two females. He married, Abigail Moseley, born at Glastonbury,
January 17, 1763.

(V) Joseph (3), son of Eleazer House, was born at Glastonbury, April
4, 1796; married, at Housevillle, November 10, 1818, Amanda Cadwell,
born at West Hartford, Connecticut, December 27, 1797. Their daughter,
Mary e., born at Houseville, March 5, 1836, married John Strong. (See
Strong).